System and method for rewarding in channel accomplishments

ABSTRACT

The systems, methods, and computer program products (collectively “systems”) described herein are generally configured to monitor actions in digital channels. More specifically, the systems may be employed in digital channels to initiate purchases or facilitate rewards. The systems are capable of syncing transaction accounts with various digital channels. Moreover, the systems are capable of initiating or completing transaction based on user information. The systems may also be capable of providing rewards based on activities or accomplishments in the digital channels. Moreover, the systems may be capable of verifying activities based on transaction information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S.Provisional Ser. No. 61/701,683, filed Sep. 16, 2012 and entitled“PURCHASING IN A DIGITAL CHANNEL,” which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety for all purposes. This application furtherclaims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Ser. No.61/701,685, filed Sep. 16, 2012, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety for all purposes. This application also claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 61/701,686, filed Sep. 16, 2012,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for allpurposes. This application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Ser.No. 61/701,688, filed Sep. 16, 2012, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety for all purposes. This application also claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 61/754,354, filed Jan. 18, 2013,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for allpurposes.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to activities in digitalchannels. More specifically, the present disclosure relates toassociating activities in digital channels with one or more transactionaccounts to provide rewards, discounts, and/or purchasing opportunities.

BACKGROUND

Traditional purchasing channels limit a consumer's ability to purchasegoods and services. These channels require consumers to visit brick andmortar businesses or e-commerce sites. As such, there is a need toprovide non-traditional purchasing channels for a consumer to purchasegoods and services.

SUMMARY

As e-commerce and digital activities grow and the boundaries of thevirtual marketplace and virtual world disappear, consumers are lookingfor ways to more easily conduct transactions (e.g., purchases orobtaining items from merchants) or take actions associated withtransactions (e.g., spend verified activities and/or reviews). As aresult, merchants, payment processors, entertainment providers and othersimilarly situated entities are also looking for new ways to attractconsumers. Such entities are looking to provide alternatives totraditional point of sale interfaces that require payment tokens (e.g.,credit/charge/debit cards, NFC, fobs, and the like) or virtual paymentterminals that require consumers to provide transaction accountinformation to allow users to more easily purchase the items they desireor require. Further, spend verification of activities allows a user toverify activities by confirming that the user's action associated withthe activity is associated with an actual transaction for an item.

The systems, methods and computer program products (collectively“systems”) described herein allow a digital channel to be augmented orsupplemented to become a payment channel. In operation, the system iscapable of syncing or associating a consumer's channel profile with aconsumers transaction account. The information to sync the profile andthe transaction account may be captured in the channel, by thetransaction account issuer (e.g., at the transaction account issuerwebsite), or by a third party service. In response to the transactionaccount and the profile being synced, the system may track consumeractivities in the digital channel. If an activity is associated withsome criteria (e.g., a transaction initiation), the system may initiatean action associated with the transaction account. The system may, forexample, initiate a transaction with a merchant, trigger a digitalchannel to request a review associated with a recently purchased item orservice experience, provide a reward based on an in channelaccomplishment, and/or the like.

The systems provide a seamless experience for consumers in variousdigital channels (e.g., social media channels and entertainmentchannels) by allowing consumers to initiate purchases, earn rewardsand/or provide feedback without leaving a channel to engage atraditional payment channel (e.g., a brick and mortar merchant location,an e-commerce site, and/or the like). In this way, the systemsconsolidate payment channels and digital channels to provide a platformfor social commerce. The systems provide flexibility and efficiency forconsumers and merchants by allowing them to connect and transact in anychannel. Further, the systems allow channel providers to rewardconsumers and request feedback. As such, these various systems provideconsumers, merchants and channel providers with the flexibility toengage in social commerce in any suitable channel.

In the context of a social media channel (e.g., Twitter), the systemsmay be configured to allow purchases based on an activity in the socialmedia channel (e.g., a Tweet). In response to a sync between the socialmedia channel and the transaction account, a user may broadcast apredefined indicator (e.g., a hashtag), that triggers the system toinitiate a purchase. The synced transaction account may be charged forthe initiated purchase and that item associated with the purchase may beprovided to the user.

In the context of an entertainment channel (e.g., XBox), the system maybe configured to allow purchases and/or rewards. In response to a syncbetween the entertainment channel and the transaction account, a usermay use the entertainment channel (e.g., play a video game). During use,the user may reach a predefined level of accomplishment, take an action,and/or make a selection that triggers the system to provide a reward orinitiate a purchase. The reward may be provided in any suitable form tothe transaction account (e.g., as a monetary credit or an offer that isloaded to the transaction account) and/or credited to a reward accountassociated with the user and/or the entertainment channel. The syncedtransaction account may be charged for the initiated purchase and thatitem associated with the purchase may be provided to the user.

In the context of a review channel (e.g., Trip Advisor), the system maybe configured to verify an existing review or request a review inresponse to a purchase. In response to a sync between the review channeland the transaction account, the system may compare transactionsassociated with the transaction account to reviews for items associatedwith the user. If the system matches a review with a transaction, thesystem may certify or otherwise verify that the review was associatedwith an actual transaction. The system may also generate requests forreviews, in response to transactions for items being initiated orcompleted with the transaction account. In response to the review beingsubmitted, the review system may certify or otherwise verify the review.

In the context of a reservation channel (e.g., Open Table), the systemmay be capable of creating a reservation for an item. In response to async between the reservation channel and the transaction account, thesystem may create a reservation for an item based on a user request. Inresponse to the item being provided to the user by the merchant, thesystem may be capable of facilitating payment for the item (e.g., ameal) and updating an inventory associated with merchant (e.g.,available tables at a restaurant). A record associated with thetransaction may also be provided by the merchant to the user in thechannel.

In various embodiments, the systems described herein are generallyconfigured to monitor actions in digital channels. The system mayassociate a transaction account with a digital channel profile. Based onthe association, the system may compare an action associated with thedigital channel profile to criteria. If the action satisfies thecriteria, the system may initiate a transaction based on the action atleast partially satisfying the criteria. The system may then transmittransaction information for an item in response to the satisfying.

In various embodiments, the systems may be configured to receive abroadcast from a broadcast channel. The broadcast and the broadcastchannel may be associated with a transaction account. The system maycompare the broadcast to criteria. In response to the broadcast at leastpartially satisfying the criteria, the system may request confirmationinformation. The system may also transmit transaction instructions foran item in response to receiving the confirmation information.

In various embodiments, the system may receive activity information froman entertainment channel. The system may analyze the activityinformation based on criteria associated with a transaction. If theactivity information satisfies a transaction event, the system mayevaluate preferences for a transaction. The system may also initiate atransaction based on the preferences.

In various embodiments, the system may receive channel profileinformation and action information. The system may determine transactionaccount information based on the channel profile information. The systemmay also compare the action information to criteria. The system maytransmit verification instructions in response to the profileinformation being associated with the transaction account informationand the action information at least partially satisfying the criteria.

In various embodiments, the system may associate a reservation createdin a digital channel based on an action in the channel with atransaction account. The channel profile may be associated with theaction that is associated with a transaction account. The system maylink the transaction information with the reservation. The transactioninformation may be provided by the merchant through the channel. Thesystem may also initiate a transaction in response to the use of thereserved item and the transaction information being provided by themerchant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become moreapparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken inconjunction with the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing various elements of a digital channelactivity monitoring, purchasing, and/or verification system, inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 2A shows an overview of a purchasing process, in accordance withvarious embodiments.

FIG. 2B shows a screenshot of a user interface tor syncing a transactionaccount with one or more digital channels, in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 2C shows a screenshot of a user interface for unsyncing atransaction account with one or more digital channels, in accordancewith various embodiments.

FIG. 2D shows a screenshot of a confirmation page in response tounsyncing a transaction account with one or more digital channels, inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows an overview of a purchasing process, in accordance withvarious embodiments.

FIG. 4 shows an overview of a process to define a purchasing event inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows an overview of a process to initiate a transaction in adigital channel, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 6 shows an overview of a process for initiating a spend verifiedreview, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 7 shows an overview of a process for verifying a review based onspend data, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 8 shows an overview of a process for verifying a review based onspend data where a channel and a profile are not initially associated,in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 9 shows an overview of a reconciliation table for associating atransaction with a review, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 10 shows an exemplary request for review on an electronic deviceand the associated review, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 11 shows an overview of an item reservation and payment process, inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 12 shows an overview of an item reservation and payment process, inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary notification, payment terms for one or moreitems, and payment confirmation for the one or more items on anelectronic device, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In various e-embodiments, the systems, methods and computer programproducts described herein provide a consumer with the ability to takeaction in digital channels (e.g., purchases, spend verified activities,and/or the like). The detailed description of various embodiments hereinmakes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show variousembodiments by way of illustration. While these various embodiments aredescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodimentsmay be realized and that logical and mechanical changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, thedetailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustrationonly and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of themethod or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are notlimited to the order presented. Moreover, any of the functions or stepsmay be outsourced to or performed by one or more third parties.Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, andany reference to more than one component may include a singularembodiment.

Systems, methods and computer program products are provided. In thedetailed description herein, references to “various embodiments”, “oneembodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicatethat the embodiment described may include a particular feature,structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarilyinclude the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover,such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic isdescribed in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it iswithin the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature,structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodimentswhether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, itwill be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implementthe disclosure in alternative embodiments.

The phrases consumer, customer, user, account holder, account affiliate,cardmember and/or the like shall include any person, entity, business,government organization, business, software, hardware, machineassociated with a transaction account, buys merchant offerings offeredby one or more merchants using the account and/or is designated forperforming transactions on the account, regardless of whether a physicalcard is associated with the account. For example, the cardmember mayinclude a transaction account owner, a transaction account user, anaccount affiliate, a child account user, a subsidiary account user, abeneficiary of an account, a custodian of an account, and/or any otherperson or entity affiliated or associated with a transaction account.

Terms and phrases similar to “sync,” “syncing,” and/or “synchronizing”may include associating, tagging, flagging, correlating, using a look-uptable or any other method or system for indicating or creating arelationship between elements such as, for example (i) a transactionaccount and (ii) an item (e.g., offer, reward, discount) and/or digitalchannel. Moreover, the sync may occur at any point, in response to anysuitable action, event, or period of time. The sync may occur atpre-determined intervals, periodic, randomly, once, more than once, orin response to a suitable request or action.

Terms and phrases similar to “associate” and/or “associating” mayinclude tagging, flagging, correlating, using a look-up table or anyother method or system for indicating or creating a relationship betweenelements, such as, for example, (i) a transaction account and (ii) anitem (e.g., offer, reward, discount) and/or digital channel. Moreover,the associating may occur at any point, in response to any suitableaction, event, or period of time. The associating may occur atpre-determined intervals, periodic, randomly, once, more than once, orin response to a suitable request or action.

As e-commerce and digital activities grow and the boundaries of thevirtual marketplace and virtual world disappear, consumers are lookingfor ways to more easily conduct transactions (e.g., purchases orobtaining items from merchants) or take actions associated withtransactions (e.g., spend verified activities and/or reviews). As aresult, merchants, payment processors, entertainment providers and othersimilarly situated entities are also looking for new ways to attractconsumers. Such entities are looking to provide alternatives totraditional point of sale interfaces that require payment tokens (e.g.,credit/charge/debit cards, NFC, fobs, and the like) or virtual paymentterminals that require consumers to provide transaction accountinformation to allow users to more easily purchase the items they desireor require. Further, spend verification of activities allows a user toverify activities by confirming that the user's action associated withthe activity is associated with an actual transaction for an item.

The systems described herein allow any digital channel to be augmentedor supplemented to become a payment channel. In operation, the system iscapable of syncing or associating a consumer's channel profile with aconsumer's transaction account. The information to sync the profile andthe transaction account may be captured in the channel, by thetransaction account issuer (e.g., at the transaction account issuerwebsite), or by a third party service. In response to the transactionaccount and the profile being synced, the system may track consumeractivities in the digital channel. If an activity meets some criteria(e.g., a transaction initiation), the system may initiate an actionassociated with the transaction account. The system may, for example,initiate a transaction with a merchant, trigger a digital channel torequest a review associated with a recently purchased item or serviceexperience, provide a reward based on an in channel accomplishment,and/or the like.

The systems provide a seamless experience for consumers in variousdigital channels (e.g., social media channels and entertainmentchannels) by allowing consumers to initiate purchases, earn rewards andprovide feedback, without leaving a channel to engage a traditionalpayment channel (e.g., a brick and mortar merchant location, ane-commerce site, and/or the like). In this way, the systems consolidatepayment channels and digital channels to provide a platform for socialcommerce. The systems provide flexibility and efficiency for consumersand merchants by allowing them to connect and transact in any channelFurther, the systems allow channel providers to reward consumers andrequest feedback. As such, these various systems provide consumers,merchants and channel providers with the flexibility to engage in socialcommerce in any suitable channel. In the context of a social mediachannel (e.g., Twitter), the systems may be configured to allowpurchases based on an activity in the social media channel (e.g., aTweet). In response to a sync between the social media channel and thetransaction account, a user may broadcast a predefined indicator (e.g.,a hashtag), that triggers the system to initiate a purchase. The syncedtransaction account may be charged for the initiated purchase and thatitem associated with the purchase may be provided to the user.

In the context of an entertainment channel (e.g., XBox), the system maybe configured to allow purchases and/or rewards. In response to a syncbetween the entertainment channel and the transaction account, a usermay use the entertainment channel (e.g., play a video game). During use,the user may reach a predefined level of accomplishment, take an action,and/or make a selection that triggers the system to provide a reward orinitiate a purchase. The reward may be provided in any suitable form tothe transaction account (e.g., as a monetary credit or an offer that isloaded to the transaction account) and/or credited to a reward accountassociated with the user and/or the entertainment channel. The syncedtransaction account may be charged for the initiated purchase and thatitem associated with the purchase may be provided to the user.

In the context of a review channel (e.g., Trip Advisor), the system maybe configured to verify an existing review or request a review inresponse to a purchase. In response to a sync between the review channelarid the transaction account, the system may compare transactionsassociated with the transaction account to reviews for items associatedwith the user. If the system matches a review with a transaction, thesystem may certify or otherwise verify that the review was associatedwith an actual transaction. The system may also generate requests forreviews, in response to transactions for items being initiated orcompleted with the transaction account. In response to the review beingsubmitted, the review system may certify or otherwise verity the review.

In the context of a reservation channel (e.g., Open Table), the systemmay be capable of creating a reservation for an item. In response to async between the reservation channel and the transaction account, thesystem may create a reservation for an item based on a user request. Inresponse to the item being provided to the user by the merchant, thesystem may be capable of facilitating payment for the item (e.g., ameal) and updating an inventory associated with merchant (e.g.,available tables at a restaurant). A record associated with thetransaction may also be provided by the merchant to the user in thechannel.

Phrases and terms similar to an “item” may include any good, service,merchant, information, experience, data, content, access, rental, lease,contribution, account, credit, debit, benefit, right, reward, points,coupons, credits, monetary equivalent, anything of value, something ofminimal or no value, monetary value, non-monetary value and/or the like.

In various embodiments and as used herein, a digital channel may be anysuitable channel available to a user over a network, including forexample, a social media channel, an entertainment channel, a servicechannel, a review channel, a service scheduling channel, and/or thelike. The channel may include a user interface and user account that maybe created by a user. Moreover, the user may be able to access thedigital channel through a web client on any suitable electronic device.The digital channel may also be considered a non-traditional purchasingchannel (e.g., a channel where information about an item may be present,but where the ability to purchase the item is not traditionallyavailable such as, for example, an item page in a social media channelwhere information about an item is available).

In various embodiments, the systems, methods, and computer programproducts (collectively, the “system”) described herein may be capable ofexecuting purchases for items, initiating transactions, providingpurchase instructions, providing transaction instructions, and/or thelike through digital channels (e.g., entertainment channels, socialmedia channels, marketing channels, advertisements, and the like). Thesystems may also be capable of associating an activity with atransaction, such that the activity is certified, confirmed, orotherwise related to the transaction to verify the action in thechannel. The system may sync, link, or otherwise associate a transactionaccount with a consumer in the channel. In response to the association,the system may track and/or receive information from a digital channelindicative of an activity with a consumer in the channel. If theactivity corresponds to a purchase opportunity, the system may initiatea purchase or provide purchase instructions associated with the purchaseopportunity. A merchant associated with the purchase opportunity mayprocess the initiation or instructions. In response to the initiation orinstructions complying with the terms of the purchase opportunity, themerchant may provide the item to the consumer and receive payment fromthe associated transaction account. For example, in a broadcast channelsuch as Twitter, the system may track or receive broadcasts (e.g.,tweets) from consumers who have associated their transaction accountswith the broadcast channel. The system may analyze the content of thebroadcast to identify a predetermined purchase indicator (e.g., ahashtag). In response to the broadcast including the purchase indicator,the system may initiate or provide instructions to a merchant toinitiate a transaction and provide an item to the consumer. The systemmay require that the consumer confirm that the broadcast was intended toinitiate a transaction for an item. As such, the system allows theconsumer to purchase an item based on a broadcast and without have touse a traditional merchant channel (e.g., a brick and mortar location, amerchant or third party e-commerce site, and/or the like).

As used herein, a “merchant” may be any person or entity capable ofproviding a service or an item. A merchant may distribute the item inany way, for example, by-exchanging the item for payment. The merchantmay be capable of accepting the payment through any suitable paymentchannel including traditional payment channels including, for example,POS terminals, online payments terminals, transaction account networksand the like. The merchant may also accept payment throughnon-traditional payment terminals including, for example, social mediachannels, person to person payments. Further information about person toperson payments is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/640,216, entitled Systems and Methods for Transferring Value via aSocial Network, which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety for any purpose.

In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 1, a system 100 maycomprise various hardware and software components including for example,a web client 110, a transaction account system 120 and a digital channel130. System 100 may be capable of interfacing with a user through a webclient 110 allowing the user to access one or more components oftransaction account system 120 and/or digital channel 130. Moreover,transaction account system 120 and digital channel 130 may beoperatively coupled or in communication with one another.

In various embodiments, transaction account system 120 may be anyhardware, software, or hardware software system capable of associatingtransaction information with an activity in a digital channel.Transaction account system 120 may comprise a sync module 122, amonitoring module 124, a transaction module 126 and a rewards module128, Digital channel 130 may comprise an activity monitoring module 132and a sync module 134.

In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 2A, a system 200 maybe capable of associating or syncing a transaction account with aconsumer profile for a channel. More specifically, system 200 may beconfigured to trigger rewards, purchases, and/or discounts based onactivities in a channel. The rewards, purchases and/or discounts may beassociated with or charged to the synced transaction account. As aresult, in various embodiments, system 200 may be capable of initiatingand/or a conducting one or more transactions for one or more items witha transaction account based on an action by a user in a digital channel(e.g., initiate a purchase based on an action in a social mediachannel). In other embodiments, system 200 may also be a verificationsystem that is capable of verifying an activity in a channel based on atransaction from an associated transaction account (e.g., spendverification of a review). In other embodiments, system 200 may be arewards system that is configured to monitor activities in a digitalchannel and provide rewards based on in channel accomplishments oractivity levels via rewards module 128.

System 200 may receive transaction account information (Step 210). Thetransaction account information may be requested by or provided tosystem 200 through any suitable channel including for example syncmodule 122 of transaction account system 120 and/or sync module 134 ofdigital channel 130. For example, system 200 may be associated with apayment processor (e.g., transaction account issuer). In this example,sync module 122 may request the transaction account information througha channel provided by the transaction account issuer (e.g., atransaction account issuer website). The transaction account informationmay also be captured through sync module 132 at digital channel 130 by adigital channel provider, a third party, or by system 200. Thetransaction account information may be captured through a tillable form,through an API or other suitable channel interface. Thus, informationneeded to sync a transaction account with a channel may be captured in adigital channel, by the transaction account issuer, or by a third party.

System 200 may also be capable of receiving consumer profile informationfor the channel (Step 220). As noted above with respect to thetransaction account information, the consumer profile information forthe channel may be requested by or provided to system 200 through anysuitable channel. The consumer profile information may also be providedin conjunction with or at substantially the same time as the transactionaccount information. For example, where the transaction accountinformation is provided to system 200 through the digital channel, theconsumer profile information for the channel may be automatically sentwith the captured transaction account information. More specifically,the system capturing the data may request that the consumer be loggedinto or otherwise known to the digital channel in response to providingthe transaction account information, such that, the digital channel canautomatically provide the consumer profile information with thetransaction account information. In operation, in response to a usersyncing transaction account and consumer profile information through adigital channel, the digital channel may capture the transactioninformation in the channel through a form or other suitable data capturemechanism. The form may be provided securely by the channel provider ora third party. The transaction data and consumer profile data are sentto the transaction account issuer, so that the transaction account andthe consumer profile can be synced.

System 200 may also receive a token or code associated with a channel(Step 220). The token or code may be used to associate the transactionaccount and a digital channel. For example, a token or code may beprovided to the consumer by system 200, a third party, the digitalchannel and/or the like. The code or token may be presented in thechannel (e.g., through an advertisement) or provided outside the channelin any suitable fashion. This token may be provided to system 200, alongwith transaction account information. Based on the token and transactionaccount information, system 200 may request, obtain or otherwisedetermine channel profile information to associate the transactionaccount with the channel (Step 225). System 200 may be capable ofcommunicating this association back to the channel provider. Based onthe association, the channel provider may be capable of monitoring theactivities, accomplishments, trends, interests, and/or the like of theconsumer. The channel provider may be further capable of communicatingthese activities, accomplishments, trends, interests, and/or the like tosystem 200.

System 200 may also provide an indicator or data associated with thetransaction account to the channel provider. The channel provider mayidentify the consumer profile associated with the channel. Based on thisidentification, the channel provider may monitor or otherwise trackand/or report the activities, accomplishments, trends, interests, and/orthe like of the consumer in the channel to system 200.

In various embodiments, system 200 may also be capable of requesting,defining, and/or associating preferences with the transaction accountand/or consumer profile for the channel (Step 230). System 200 may allowthe consumer to define various preference related to activities with achannel, purchasing, shipment, rewards, offers, and/or the like. Forexample, system 200 may allow the user to select whether to enterconfirmation information associated with the transaction account and/orconsumer profile for the channel in response to making a purchase in adigital channel. The system may also either request that confirmation isprovided for each transaction (e.g., purchase through a digital channel)and/or provide that each transaction is partially or fully completedautomatically. Where transactions are completed automatically, system200 may receive confirmation information associated with the transactionaccount and/or consumer profile for the channel in response to theconsumer defining her initial preferences (Step 235).

As noted above, system 200 may also allow a consumer to partially orfully define other preferences. For example, system 200 may allow a userto define one or more shipping addresses to facilitate fulfillment of atransaction or purchase. System 200 may also allow a user to define howoffers and/or rewards are earned, distributed, provided, and the likefor transactions and/or purchase events. For additional information onhow offers and/or rewards are earned, distributed, and/or provided, seefor example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/439,768, filed, Apr. 4.2012. and entitled System and Method for Providing InternationalCoupon-Less Discounts, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/710,461 filed on Mar. 14, 2012 and entitled “GENERATING MERCHANTRECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSUMERS” and U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/646,778 filed on May 14, 2012 and entitled “SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS FOR TAILORED MARKETING BASED ON FILTERING,” each of which isincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

As part of preference selection, system 200 may provide a user with theoption to associate multiple channels with a single transaction accountor multiple transaction accounts with one or more channels. For exampleand with reference to FIG. 2B, if a user has several digital channelsand/or social media profiles (e.g., Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter,LinkedIn, and/or the like), system 200 may provide a user with theoption to select multiple channels to sync with the transaction account.System 200 may present the user with selectable links 221 that trigger async or association between the channel and the transaction account.System 200 may also request information for each of the digital channelsand/ or social media profiles. This central linking capability,illustrated in FIG. 2B, creates a convenient and efficient solution forthe user to link her transaction account(s) with multiple channelsthrough a single interface.

System 200 may also be capable of associating the transaction accountinformation and consumer profile information for the channel and/orprofile (Step 240). This association enables the transaction account tobe used for transactions in response to an action being detected in achannel. For example, if the channel is a broadcast service (e.g.,Twitter), a broadcast (e.g., a Tweet) may be monitored by system 200 orany other suitable system to determine whether the broadcast contains orconforms to a predefined action (e.g., a hashtag, a keyword, and/thelike). In response to detecting or receiving the action (or dataindicative of the action), system 200 through transaction module 126 mayinitiate a purchase for the consumer based on the preferences defined bythe user. Moreover, if the channel is an entertainment channel (e.g.,XBox), an action (e.g., an in-game accomplishment, an in-game activity,and/or the like) may be monitored by system 200 via monitoring module124 or any other suitable system to determine whether the activitycontains or conforms to a predefined action. In response to detecting orreceiving the action or a selection associated with the action (or dataindicative of the action or selection), system 200 may initiate apurchase for the consumer based on the preferences defined by the user.In this way, system 200 transforms any digital channel into ane-commerce channel, by tracking actions of digital channel users toidentify activities that trigger purchases.

In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 2C and FIG. 2D, system200 may also be capable of un-syncing or disassociating a transactionaccount and a digital channel. For example, if a user wishes to end theassociation between the user's transaction account and channel profile,the user may access system 200 and select one or more channels fromwhich the user wishes to un-sync. System 200 may present the user withthe one or more digital channels (e.g., digital channel 1 (“DC1”),digital channel 2 (“DC2”) . . . and/or digital channel N (“DCN”)) thatare synced with the user's transaction account and enable the user toselectively or completely un-sync the one or more channels and thetransaction account. For example and as illustrated in FIG. 2C, the eachof DC1, DC2 and DCN may be presented to the user with an associatedun-sync option 223 (e.g., button or link 223). By selecting the un-syncoption 223, system 200 may request that the user provide confirminginformation or system 200 may automatically un-sync or disassociate thetransaction account and the selected channel. System 200 may furtherprovide the user with a confirmation that the selected channel(s) isun-synced, as shown in FIG. 2D.

In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 3, system 300 may becapable of monitoring activities in a digital channel (e.g., initiatinga purchase based on an action in a digital channel) through monitoringmodule 124 of transaction account system 120 or activity monitoringmodule 132 of digital channel 130. A consumer (e.g., who is a user of adigital channel) may interact with a channel in various ways (Step 310).For example, a consumer may be a user of a broadcast channel (e.g.,Twitter, Facebook, You-Tube, a messaging service, and/or any othersuitable broadcast channel) or an entertainment channel (e.g., a gamingcounsel (e.g., XBox), a video counsel (e.g., Apple TV), music service(e.g., Pandora), and/or the like) and may take actions in the channel(e.g., make broadcasts). The broadcast channel, monitoring module 124,activity monitoring module 132, or any other suitable system may monitorbroadcasts from the user. These broadcasts may be provided to oracquired by system 300. In addition to the content of the broadcast, thesource of the broadcast may also be provided (e.g., the user/consumer).

For example, system 300 may analyze the broadcast to confirm that thebroadcast satisfies a certain action and/or content (e.g., a hashtag, akeyword, a code, interest selection, like, thumbs up, or any othersuitable action and/or content). System 300 may also analyze the user orsource of the broadcast. System 300 may first determine whether theconsumer's transaction account and channel profile are suitablyassociated (Step 320). If the transaction account and channel are notassociated, the system 300 may request that the transaction account andchannel profile be associated (Step 240). This may be accomplished inany suitable way such as, for example, according to the processdescribed herein with respect to FIG. 2. If the transaction account andchannel profile are associated, system 300 may determine whether thetransaction account and the channel profile are associated fortransactions (Step 330). If the transaction account and channel profileare not associated for transactions, system 300 may request a preferencechange (Step 230). If the transaction account and channel profile areassociated for transactions, then system 300 may present paymentconfirmation (Step 340).

Where the digital channel is a broadcast channel such as, for example, ashort message service (e.g., Twitter), the broadcast channel may receiveand distribute all broadcasts. In this way, the broadcast channel may beable to monitor or analyze broadcasts for the specific action. Thebroadcast channel may also be configured with a mechanism capable ofidentifying particular actions. In the context of Twitter, the actionmay be a predefined hashtag, keyword, and/or the like.

The action may be a hashtag that comprises the “#” sign and a symbol orkeyword, as is commonly used to characterize or categorize a broadcast.The action may be any other indicator, media, event, data, act, and/orthe like that, is predetermined or dynamically determined by the entitymaking or distributing the purchase event. The action may compriseelements or symbols that are associated with the entity offering ordistributing the purchase event (e.g., a branded action). For example, apurchasing event sponsored by a merchant and distributed by AmericanExpress may comprise elements of the name of the merchant (e.g., ME forMerchant A) and elements of American Express (e.g., AXP for AmericanExpress). In this example, the action may be #MEAXP. It should beunderstood that the action may also comprise text, pictures, video,graphical elements, symbols, sounds, act, media, data and/or the like.The action may also comprise any predetermined or dynamically determinedelements or symbols that describe the purchase event or are arbitrary.

Where the hashtag is used and the broadcast channel account used tobroadcast the hashtag is public, system 300 or an entity administering apurchase program in the broadcast channel can identify the user whobroadcasted the action (e.g., a hashtag, keyword, or the like) bysearching for a particular action among publicly available broadcasts.Broadcasts can also be linked to other social media channels orbroadcast channels such as Facebook, LinkedIn, or any other publiclyaccessible website using a broadcast channel API or widget (e.g., theTwitter widget). The broadcasts may be displayed within a social mediaor publicly accessible website, so that the merchant or entityadministering the purchase event can identify what users arebroadcasting to take advantage of the purchase event.

The merchant or the entity administering the purchase event may alsofollow a user who associates a transaction account for purchases basedon broadcasts. In this case, the merchant or entity administering therewards program may receive every broadcast from the user and may beable to determine whether one or more of the user's broadcasts includedthe action. In response to the merchant or entity administering thepurchase event having identified a broadcast that contains the action, apurchase associated with the purchase event may be initiated and anappropriate transaction associated with the purchase may be charged tothe transaction account associated with the user.

Purchase events may be advertised, provided, or otherwise distributed tousers that follow a merchant, manufacturer, distributor, a sponsoringentity and/or the like on a broadcast channel. Notifications of purchaseevents may also be distributed through any other suitable channel. Thenotification may contain details of the item, the digital channel wherethe purchase event may occur and/or the action for redeeming thepurchase event.

Where the digital channel is an entertainment channel such as, forexample, gaming channel (e.g., XBox), the channel may receive anddistribute all actions. In this way, the entertainment channel may beable to monitor or analyze actions for a predefined action. Theentertainment channel may also be configured with a mechanism capable ofidentifying particular and/or specific actions or levels of actions. Inthe context of a gaming channel, the action may be a predefined inchannel activity, level of accomplishment, activity and/or the like.

The action may be any suitable action in the gaming channel. Forexample, in a sports game (e.g., a golf game), the action may be theselection of a particular virtual piece of equipment. Similarly, theaction may be a particular level of accomplishment in a particular gameor with a particular piece of virtual equipment. Moreover, the purchaseopportunity may be associated with the action. For example, a level ofaccomplishment in a particular gaming environment may allow a user topurchase a particular reward. For example, a particular level ofaccomplishment in a golf theme game may allow a user to purchase ticketsor otherwise acquire tickets to a golf themed event (e.g., the MastersGolf Tournament, the Phoenix Open, and/or the like). An actionassociated with a particular virtual piece of equipment may allow aconsumer to purchase the equipment for use on the golf course (e.g., aselection of a virtual club may allow a user to purchase the actualclub). Moreover, the particular accomplishment or action may allow theconsumer to acquire the item associated with the virtual action oraccomplishment at a discounted price or as a reward.

Where the action or accomplishment is available in a publicentertainment channel, system 300 or an entity administering a purchaseor rewards program in the entertainment channel may be capable ofidentifying the user associated with the accomplishment or action. Theactions may be posted or noticed through any suitable channel. Forexample, the action and/or accomplishment may be visible or noticedthrough a publicly available accomplishment board (e.g., a scoreboard, acommunity accomplishment board, and/or the like). The entertainmentchannel may also be associated with a social media channel (e.g.,Facebook, Twitter, and/or the like) such that the action oraccomplishment may be broadcast or otherwise associated with the socialmedia channel. As such, system 300 or an entity responsible foradministering a purchasing program in a digital channel (e.g., anentertainment channel) may be capable of monitoring public channels foractions and/or accomplishments.

Purchase events may be advertised, provided, or otherwise distributed tousers through the entertainment channel in a virtual environment (e.g.,in an in-game experience). Notifications of purchase events may also bedistributed through any other suitable channel. The notification maycontain details of the item, the digital channel where the purchaseevent may occur and/or the action for redeeming the purchase event.

Payment confirmation may include a user taking action or may be anotification that a transaction has been partially or fully initiated,processed, or completed. In various embodiments, system 300 may requestthat the user provide transaction account details to confirm that thetransaction is authorized by the user. For example, system 300 mayrequest a verification code, the zip code associated with the billingaddress, a password, or any other suitable verification information.This information may be requested through the channel or may berequested in any other suitable way (e.g., a link provided to theconsumer through an electronic message). In various embodiments, theconfirmation details for a transaction may also be automaticallysupplied if the consumer provided confirmation information in responseto the consumer being initially linked to the transaction account andthe channel profile. As such, the transaction or purchase initiatedbased on the in channel action may proceed without requiring aconfirming action from the consumer. Based on an action initiating apurchase, the channel or system 300 may provide the consumer with aconfirmation notification. This notification may contain purchasedetails including for example, transaction account information, iteminformation, channel profile information, and/or the like.

As described herein, system 300 may also be configured to monitor andprovide rewards for in channel accomplishments. The in channelaccomplishments may be any suitable level of achievement (e.g.,accomplishing tasks in a video game), duration of use (e.g., using amusic service for at least a threshold amount of time), and/or a type ofuse (e.g., using a music service to listen to music from a particularartist).

In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 4, a merchant maydefine a purchase event. The purchase event may allow a consumer topurchase an item through a digital channel with an action in thechannel. The merchant may define an inventory, terms and conditions, theaction, and any other suitable parameters for the purchase. The merchantmay access system 400 through any suitable purchase or offer creationchannel including, for example, U.S. Ser. No. 13/153,890, entitledSystem and Method for Administering Marketing Programs, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. The merchantmay define a purchase event in any suitable fashion (Step 410). Forexample, the merchant may define a start date, an end date, a channel,an item, an action, an offer, and/or any other suitable term. Themerchant may also define a purchase inventory in system 400 (Step 420).The merchant may define a fixed or pre-defined inventory or items or adynamically determined inventory or items. For example, the merchant mayassociate an item for purchase or acquisition with a particularaccomplishment, media, virtual element, action or other suitable actionin the entertainment channel

In various embodiments, this inventory may be determined based on marketprojections, initial success of a purchase event campaign, or any othersuitable parameter. For example, system 400 may be configured to monitora purchasing event in substantially real time (e.g., within minutes,hours, or days of an action defined by the merchant offering thepurchasing event). Based on this monitoring, system 400 may be capableof providing the merchant with real time interest data for thepurchasing event. This real time interest data may enable a merchant todynamically adjust the inventory of an item available to system 400based on the interest in the particular purchasing event. This reportingallows the merchant and system 400 to dynamically adjust the inventoryof the item in real time.

In various embodiments, the merchant may also define an offer associatedwith items in the inventory (Step 430). The merchant may provide anoffer to system 400 to encourage purchases through the digital channel.These offers may be associated with the pre-defined action provided bythe merchant in response to the merchant defining the purchasing event.The offer may also be associated with the item. For example, themerchant may provide an instant rebate offer. In this example, system400 may receive the predefined action through the digital channel and,based on the action, evaluate available offers for a purchase event oran item. If the action complies with the purchase event or the item,system 400 may adjust the price of the item based on the offer. Theoffer may apply only to items purchased through the purchasing event.The offer may also apply to the purchase of an item through traditionaland/or digital channels.

In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 5, system 500 may becapable of conducting purchase operations In any suitable fashion viatransaction module 126. System 500 may be capable of detecting apurchase action in a channel (step 510). The action may be a broadcast(e.g., a tweet) or any other suitable operation. Based on or in responseto this action, system 500 may be capable of analyzing the terms of thepurchase event. For example, system 500 may determine whether aparticular purchase event is active based on the start date and/or enddate associated with the purchase event. If the purchase event isinactive, system 500 may provide a consumer with details regarding thepurchase event.

If the purchasing event is active, system 500 may evaluate the inventoryof an item associated with the purchasing event (Step 520). If noinventory is available (or insufficient inventory), system 500 mayprovide a notification to the consumer indicating that the item is nolonger available for purchase or that inventory for an item is notavailable, but is being requested. If inventory for an item isavailable, system 500 may analyze the spend history of the transactionaccount associated with the purchase event (e.g., if the consumer haspreviously purchased the item associated with the purchase event) (Step530). If the transaction account associated with the purchase event hasalready purchase the item, system 500 may request a confirmation for theconsumer that a multiple purchase is authorized.

If the consumer has not previously purchased the item or if the consumerindicates the she wishes to purchase multiple items, system may becapable of evaluating the inventory status of the item. (Step 540).System 500 may also be capable of determining whether a transactionaccount is linked for purchasing an item (Step 550). If the transactionaccount is not linked for purchasing an item through digital channels,system 500 may be capable of requesting that the user link or update thepreferences associated with the transaction account to confirm thatpurchases may be made through digital channels as described above.

Based on the transaction account being linked to the profile to conductpurchases, system 500 may initiate, conduct, transmit, complete orotherwise authorize the purchase of an item (Step 560). In variousembodiments, system 500 may also associate an offer, discount, reward,incentive, and/or the like with the purchase and/or action in thechannel. Based on the purchase, system 500 may request confirmation asdescribed above or provide a notification or a transaction associatedwith an action in the channel (Step 570). This notification may beprovided through the channel where the purchase was initiated or throughan alternative channel. This notification may be provided insubstantially real time based on the transaction (e.g., substantiallyinstantly, and/or within minutes or days of the transaction and/oraction in the channel).

In various embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 6, system 600 may bea verification system capable of requesting an action in a channel basedon a transaction. That action may be further verified (e.g., spendverified) based on the transaction that initiated the request for theaction. System 600 may be capable of identifying items associated with auser activity. System 600 or the channel may be capable of identifying apool of merchants, items, user and/or the like that are associated witha channel spend verify program (Step 610). To be part of the pool, themerchant, item, user and/or the like may have shopped at a particularmerchant, purchased a particular item, conducted a defined type oftransaction, used a particular transaction account and/or the like.Based on being included in the pool, system 600 may identify a user as asynced user. System 600 may further monitor transaction informationassociated with a synced user's transaction account to identifytransaction that the synced user conducts with a merchant that isassociated with the channel spend verification program (Step 620).

System 600 may be capable of triggering a notification or creatingnotification instructions in response to detecting a transaction orauthorization at a merchant associated with the pool (Step 630). Thenotification or notification instructions may be provided to thechannel. System 600 may also be capable of transmitting the notificationdirectly to the user to request that the user perform an action in thechannel (Step 640). Similarly, the channel may transmit a request to theuser to perform an action in the channel based on, or in response to,receiving the notification from system 600.

The notification may include a link (e.g., a hyperlink) to an itemprofile (e.g., a merchant profile, a product profile, and/or the like)in the channel. The notification may also contain transactioninformation and information regarding the action. For example, thenotification may request that a user provide a review for a particularlyidentified transaction that the user recently completed at a merchantand/or for an item. The notification may further indicate that thereview will be spend verified based on the transaction.

In various embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 7, system 700 may bea verification system capable requesting verification (e.g., spendverification) of an action in a channel based on a transaction and inresponse to receiving the action in the channel. The user may generatecontent or take an action in a channel (Step 710). For example, the usermay review a hotel on a travel services review website (e.g.,<tripadvisor.com>). System 700 may receive user information and merchantinformation from the channel in response to the action (Step 720).System 700 may further identify the particular merchant and thetransaction account associated with the user (Step 730).

In response to the user being a synced user, system 700 may review thetransaction history of the identified transaction account against theassociated merchant. (Step 740). System 700 may further determine if theuser has spent at the merchant based on the transaction historyassociated with the transaction account (Step 750). System 700 mayfurther analyze the details of the transaction to determine whether aparticular transaction can be used for spend verification based onpredetermined rules. In response to the transaction information at leastpartially conforming to the rules, system 700 may provide a verificationor verification instructions to the channel such that the action orcontent is spend verified (Step 760).

As noted herein, a user may define preferences when the user syncs hertransaction account and her channel profile. As such, system 700 may becapable of determining whether particular actions or content may beverified based on the preferences defined by the user.

In various embodiments, system 600 and system 700 may be furtherconfigured to annotate the reviews and/or content that are spendverified or otherwise certified. For example, system 600 and system 700may be capable of annotating or otherwise associating an indicator(e.g., a badge) with the user provided review or content to promote,draw attention to, or otherwise verify the review. Moreover, theindicator may include an annotation that indicates the source of thepayment or spend (e.g., “American Express Spend Verified”).

In various embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 8, a channel mayprovide user information of its user base to system 800 (Step 810). Forexample, the channel may provide an e-mail address for each user thathas provided a review. System 800 may determine that the userinformation received from the channel is associated with informationassociated with a transaction account (Step 820). For example, system800 may access e-mail address associated with a transaction account andcompare them with the e-mail address provided by the channel. Inresponse to the e-mail address associated with the transaction accountat least partially satisfying an e-mail address provided by the channel,system 800 may send a request to the user to provide a review of an itemor a merchant (Step 830). The user may be directed to the channel toprovide a review based on the request from system 800. The request mayalso contain an opt-out selection that allows the user to indicate thatthe user does not want to take an action in a channel.

System 800 and/or the channel may receive the action (e.g., a review)from the user. Based on receiving the action, system 800 may present theuser with the option to sync the user's transaction account with thechannel (Step 840). The sync may be accomplished by any suitable processincluding the process described herein with respect to FIG. 2. Inresponse to the user syncing the transaction account with the channel,system 800 may send a verification or verification instructions to thechannel to verity the action or content from the user in the channel(Step 850).

In various embodiments, system 800 may be capable of providing averification and/or verification instructions if a user is not synced.For example, the channel may provide user information (e.g., an e-mailaddress) for a channel user in response to the user taking an action orproviding content in the channel. The channel may also provide merchantand/or item information associated with the action and/or content.System 800 may associate the channel user information with informationassociated with a transaction account to determine an identifiedtransaction account. System 800 may also associate the merchant and/oritem information with transaction information associated with theidentified transaction account. If the transaction information at (eastpartially satisfies the merchant and/or item information provided by thechannel, system 800 may provide a verification and/or verificationinstructions for the action and/or content provided by the user in thechannel.

In various embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 9, the verificationsystem may be configured to analyze channel profile information andtransaction information in any suitable fashion. The data may becompared or associated based on one or more parameters, includingparameters associated with the transaction account and the channelprofile. The channel may initially provide profile data including forexample, a user name and/or e-mail address and a date of action (e.g.,review). The channel may also provide supplemental informationincluding, for example, a merchant name and/or item name and a date ofbirth (DOB) associated with the channel user. The verification systemmay be capable of analyzing and associating the information provided bythe channel with information associated with one or more transactionaccounts. For example, the verification system may identify atransaction account based on a username and/or e-mail address and a DOB.The system may further evaluate transaction associated with thetransaction account based on one or more of a merchant name, a date ofan action/transaction, and/or the like.

The verification system may be capable of preparing a look-up orcomparison table 900 associated with the submission of channelinformation by the channel. Table 900 may compare one or more dataelements provided by the channel and reconciled by the verificationsystem including, for example, the username (line item 910), the DOB(line item 920), the merchant name (line item 930), and/or the date ofaction/ transaction (line item 840). The verification system may beconfigured to analyze the elements of table 900 to against predeterminedrules. For example, the verification system may be configured toparticularly identify a merchant and/or item based on the informationprovided by the channel. This identification may include anidentification code, location, store number, item number (e.g., SKU,UPC, QR code, and/or the like) and/or the like. Moreover, theverification system may be capable of analyzing the channel informationand the information associated with the transaction account (e.g., thedetails of the transaction information) to determine whether aparticular transaction is appropriate for a verification of an action.The predetermined rules may be defined as a time period (e.g., less thanone (1) year between the date of the review and the date of thetransaction), an amount (e.g., a minimum spend), and/or the like. Basedon this analysis, the verification system may provide a verificationand/or verification instructions for the channel action and/or content.

In various embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 10, the system and/orchannel may be configured to provide a request for review and/or areview to a user in real-time relative to a transaction and/orauthorization. The system and/or channel may be capable of pushing arequest for an action 1010 in the channel through an electronic device(e.g., through a micro-app). The verification system and/or channel maybe further configured to provide a survey 1020 through the electronicdevice. For example, the system and/or channel may be capable ofdistributing a request for action in response to an action in a channelor a transaction through any suitable real-time (i.e., relative to theaction or transaction) channel. The real-time channel may include anelectronic device such as, for example, a Smartphone, a tablet, anentertainment channel, a mobile channel, a micro-app, and/or the like.Based on the response by the user, the action in the channel may triggerthe system and/or the channel to verify an action.

In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 11, system 1100 may beconfigured as an item reservation and/or purchasing service. System 1100may be capable of reserving a service and/or processing payment for thereserved service. In these embodiments, a transaction account may besynced with a digital channel as described herein (e.g., according tothe process described with respect to FIG. 2). The digital channel maybe a digital channel that is capable of reserving an item. For example,the digital channel may be a service reservation channel such as OpenTable or any other suitable item reservation service. A user may reservean item through the digital channel (Step 1120). The digital channel mayprovide the reservation information for the item to system 1100 (Step1130). This reservation information may include one or more parametersincluding for example, a merchant, an item, an item category, atransaction account identifier, a date, a time, a location, and/or thelike. The system may create and/or associate a unique identifier withthe request such that the user, system, channel, or a third party canaccess the reservation and associated reservation and/or iteminformation with the unique identifier.

The user may use the reserved item (Step 1140). In response to the userusing the reserved item, the merchant POS may send a charge associatedwith the use of the item to the channel (Step 1150) The channel may thenprovide the charge to the system, a transaction account issuer (e.g.,the transaction account system 120), or any other suitable party (Step1160). In response to the charge being provided, the system, thetransaction account issuer, or the third pasty may process payment(e.g., initiate a transaction associated with the synced transactionaccount) for the charge (Step 1170).

System 1100 may further evaluate transaction information associated withthe payment to determine whether the payment corresponds with anactivity associated with the transaction account. In this way, system110 may function as a fraud detection system. More specifically, system1100 may compare the transaction information associated with thepurchase to reservation information associated with the reservationinformation associated with a synced transaction account. Where thetransaction details comply with the reservation information, system 110may authorize the transaction. Moreover, where the transactioninformation corresponds to an item associated with the reservation,system 110 may request a review of the item as described herein. System1100 may further associated transaction information or provide anindication of a spend verification based on the transaction information,and the associated item reservation information. System 1100 may alsodetermine that transaction information is not associated with orcontradicts reservation information. In response to the discrepancy,system 1100 may not authorize a transaction. The failure to authorize acharge to the transaction account may be based on a failure of thetransaction to comply with business rules (e.g., the transactioninformation does not correspond to the reservation information).

System 1100 may further trigger a real-time (based on the transactioninitiation) notification, or the transaction to the user (1180). Thenotification may be provided through any suitable channel. For example,the notification may be provided to the user through the digital channel(Step 1190). The notification may be provided through an application onan electronic device (e.g., a Smartphone) or any other suitable channeland/or device.

In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 12, system 1200 may becapable of reserving an item and initiating payment for the reservedpayment in response the item being used. In various embodiments, atransaction account may be synced with a digital channel through anysuitable process including those processes described herein (1210)including, for example, the process described with reference to FIG. 2.System 1200 may be capable of storing the transaction accountinformation for a future reservation for an item (Step 1220). Thetransaction information may be stored by system 1200, the digitalchannel, the transaction account system, or any suitable third party.Moreover, the transaction account information may be stored in anysuitable format such that it is secure and/or encrypted as describedherein. In various embodiments, the user may book a reservation for anitem in a digital channel (Step 1240). If the user associated with thereservation has a digital channel account that is synced to atransaction account, the transaction account may be synced with thereservation (Step 1230). The transaction account that is synced may havebeen previously stored by system 1200, the digital channel, and/or athird party as noted in Step 1220.

A user may use the reserved item (Step 1250), associated with thereservation. Moreover, the merchant providing the item may process apayment for the item using the synced transaction account (Step 1260)associated with the reservation and/or the digital channel used to makethe reservation. In various embodiments, any suitable entity may processthe transaction for the item. For example, a transaction account issuermay be directly or indirectly (e.g., through the digital channel) linkedto a payment processor. Based on the stored transaction accountinformation associated with the reservation, system 1200 or anothersuitable system may initiate and/or complete payment for a reserved itemin response to the user using the item.

Where the item used by the user associated with the reservation waspreviously associated with a digital channel, the status of the item maybe updated based on the use in the digital channel (Step 1270). As such,the inventory for the item may be adjusted accordingly by system 1200 asdescribed herein. The use of the item associated with the reservationand/or the charge associated with the use may also cause the totalcharge for the item to be automatically updated in the digital channel(Step 1280). Moreover, a post-transaction notification may be sent tothe user (Step 1290). The notification may be sent through the digitalchannel associated with the reservation, the channel associated with thetransaction, or any other suitable channel described herein.

For example, in various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 13, anelectronic device associated with system 1200 or web client 110 may becapable of receiving a notification 1310. The electronic device mayfurther be configured with at least a portion of the digital channeland/or system 1200, such that the electronic device is capable oflisting one or more transaction details associated with the use of theitem associated with the reservation. Moreover, the electronic devicemay be capable of performing other function including, for example,calculating a tip associated with the charges for an item, determiningdelivery costs, determining costs for fees associated with an item,and/or the like as shown in electronic device 1320. Moreover, as shownin electronic device 1330, system 1200 may provide electronic device1330 with the option to pay with the synced transaction accountassociated with the channel. System 1200 may also be capable ofpresenting alternative payment options (e.g., a pay with cash button).These alternative payment options may be communicated to the merchantassociated with the reservation and/or used item and may adjust and/orsatisfy the amount due for the item.

As such, the systems described herein facilitate purchases in digitalchannels. The systems described herein further facilitate monitor andrewarding activities or accomplishments in a digital channel. Thesystems described herein further facilitate confirmation or verificationof activities in digital channels based on transaction information.

Any communication, transmission and/or channel discussed herein mayinclude any system or method for delivering content (e.g. data,information, metadata, etc), and/or the content itself. The content maybe presented in any form or medium, and in various embodiments, thecontent may be delivered electronically and/or capable of beingpresented electronically. For example, a channel may comprise a website,a uniform resource locator (“URL”), a document (e.g., a Microsoft Worddocument, a Microsoft Excel document, an Adobe .pdf document, etc.), an“ebook,” an “emagazine,” an application or microapplication (asdescribed below), an SMS or other type of text message, an email,Facebook, Twitter, MMS and/or other type of communication technology. Invarious embodiments, a channel may be hosted or provided by a datapartner. In various embodiments, the distribution channel may compriseat least one of a merchant website, a social media website, affiliate orpartner websites, an external vendor, a mobile device communication,social media network and/or location based service. Distributionchannels may include at least one of a merchant website, a social mediasite, affiliate or partner websites, an external vendor, and a mobiledevice communication. Examples of social media sites include Facebook®,foursquare®, Twitter®, MySpace®, LinkedIn®, and the like. Examples ofaffiliate or partner websites include American Express®, Groupon®,LivingSocial®, and the like. Moreover, examples of mobile devicecommunications include texting, email, and mobile applications forsmartphones.

A “consumer profile” or “consumer profile data” may comprise anyinformation or data about a consumer that describes an attributeassociated with the consumer (e.g., a preference, an interest,demographic information, personally identifying information, and thelike)

In various embodiments, the methods described herein are implementedusing the various particular machines described herein. The methodsdescribed herein may be implemented using the below particular machines,and those hereinafter developed, in any suitable combination, as wouldbe appreciated immediately by one skilled in the art. Further, as isunambiguous from this disclosure, the methods described herein mayresult in various transformations of certain articles.

For the sake of brevity, conventional data networking, applicationdevelopment and other functional aspects of the systems (and componentsof the individual operating components of the systems) may not bedescribed in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown inthe various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplaryfunctional relationships and/or physical couplings between the variouselements. It should be noted that many alternative or additionalfunctional relationships or physical connections may be present in apractical system.

The various system components discussed herein may include one or moreof the following: a host server or other computing systems including aprocessor for processing digital data; a memory coupled to the processorfor storing digital data; an input digitizer coupled to the processorfor inputting digital data; an application program, stored in the memoryand accessible by the processor for directing processing of digital databy the processor: a display device coupled to the processor and memoryfor displaying information derived from digital data processed by theprocessor; and a plurality of databases. Various databases used hereinmay include: client data; merchant data; financial institution data;and/or like data useful in the operation of the system. As those skilledin the art will appreciate, user computer may include an operatingsystem (e.g., Windows NT, Windows 95/98/3000, Windows XP, Windows Vista,Windows 7, OS2, UNIX, Linux, Solaris, MacOS, etc.) as well as variousconventional support software and drivers typically associated withcomputers.

The present system or any part(s) or function(s) thereof may beimplemented using hardware, software or a combination thereof and may beimplemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems.However, the manipulations performed by embodiments were often referredto in terms, such as matching or selecting, which are commonlyassociated with mental operations performed by a human operator. No suchcapability of a human operator is necessary, or desirable in most cases,in any of the operations described herein. Rather, the operations may bemachine operations. Useful machines for performing the variousembodiments include general purpose digital computers or similardevices.

In fact, in various embodiments, the embodiments are directed toward oneor more computer systems capable of carrying out the functionalitydescribed herein. The computer system includes one or more processors,such as processor. The processor is connected to a communicationinfrastructure (e.g., a communications bus, cross over bar, or network).Various software embodiments are described in terms of this exemplarycomputer system. After reading this description, it will become apparentto a person skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement variousembodiments using other computer systems and/or architectures. Computersystem can include a display interface that forwards graphics, text, andother data from the communication infrastructure (or from a frame buffernot shown) for display on a display unit.

Computer system also includes a main memory, such as for example randomaccess memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory. Thesecondary memory may include, for example, a hard disk drive and/or aremovable storage drive, representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetictape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removable storage drivereads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit in a well-knownmanner. Removable storage unit represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape,optical disk, etc. which is read by and written to by removable storagedrive. As will be appreciated, the removable storage unit includes acomputer usable storage medium having stored therein computer softwareand/or data.

In various embodiments, secondary memory may include other similardevices for allowing computer programs or other instructions to beloaded into computer system. Such devices may include, for example, aremovable storage unit and an interface. Examples of such may include aprogram cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in videogame devices), a removable memory chip (such as an erasable programmableread only memory (EPROM), or programmable read only memory (PROM)) andassociated socket, and other removable storage units and interfaces,which allow software and data to be transferred from the removablestorage unit to computer system.

Computer system may also include a communications interface.Communications interface allows software and data to be transferredbetween computer system and external devices. Examples of communicationsinterface may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernetcard), a communications port, a Personal Computer Memory CardInternational Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc. Software and datatransferred via communications interface are in the form of signalswhich may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical or other signalscapable of being received by communications interface. These signals areprovided to communications interface via a communications path (e.g.,channel). This channel carries signals and may be implemented usingwire, cable, fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular link, a radiofrequency (RF) link, wireless and other communications channels.

The terms “computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” areused to generally refer to media such as removable storage drive and ahard disk installed in hard disk drive. Those computer program productsprovide software to computer system.

Computer programs (also referred to as computer control logic) arestored in main memory and/or secondary memory. Computer programs mayalso be received via communications interface. Such computer programs,when executed, enable the computer system to perform the features asdiscussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed,enable the processor to perform the features of various embodiments.Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of thecomputer system.

In various embodiments, software may be stored in a computer programproduct and loaded into computer system using removable storage drive,hard disk drive or communications interface. The control logic(software), when executed by the processor, causes the processor toperform the functions of various embodiments as described herein. Invarious embodiments, hardware components such as application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs). Implementation of the hardware statemachine so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparentto persons skilled in the relevant art(s).

In various embodiments, the server may include application servers (e.g.WEB SPHERE, WEB LOGIC, JBOSS). In various embodiments, the server mayinclude web servers (e.g. APACHE, IIS, GWS, SUN JAVA SYSTEM WEB SERVER).

A web client includes any device (e.g., personal computer) whichcommunicates via any network, for example such as those discussedherein. Such browser applications comprise Internet browsing softwareinstalled within a computing unit or a system to conduct onlinetransactions and/or communications. These computing units or systems maytake the form of a computer or set of computers, although other types ofcomputing units or systems may be used, including laptops, notebooks,tablets, hand held computers, personal digital assistants, set-topboxes, workstations, computer-servers, main frame computers,mini-computers, PC servers, pervasive computers, network sets ofcomputers, personal computers, such as iPads, iMacs, and MacBooks,kiosks, terminals, point of sale (POS) devices and/or terminals,televisions, or any other device capable of receiving data over anetwork. A web-client may run Microsoft internet Explorer, MozillaFirefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari, or any other of the myriadsoftware packages available for browsing the internet.

Practitioners will appreciate that a web client may or may not be indirect contact with an application server. For example, a web client mayaccess the services of an application server through another serverand/or hardware component, which may have a direct or indirectconnection to an Internet server. For example, a web client maycommunicate with an application server via a load balancer, in anexemplary embodiment, access is through a network or the Internetthrough a commercially-available web-browser software package.

As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a web client includes anoperating system (e.g., Windows NT, 95/98/3000/CE/Mobile, OS2, UNIX,Linux, Solaris, MacOS, PalmOS, etc.) as well as various conventionalsupport software and drivers typically associated with computers. A webclient may include any suitable personal computer, network computer,workstation, personal digital assistant, cellular phone, smart phone,minicomputer, mainframe or the like. A web client can be in a home orbusiness environment with access to a network. In an exemplaryembodiment, access is through a network or the Internet through acommercially available web-browser software package. A web client mayimplement security protocols such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) andTransport Layer Security (TLS). A web client may implement severalapplication layer protocols including http, https, ftp, and sftp.

In various embodiments, components, modules, and/or engines of system200 may be implemented as micro-applications or micro-apps. Micro-appsare typically deployed in the context of a mobile operating system,including for example, a Palm mobile operating system, a Windows mobileoperating system, an Android Operating System, Apple iOS, a Blackberryoperating system and the like. The micro-app may be configured toleverage the resources of the larger operating system and associatedhardware via a set of predetermined rules which govern the operations ofvarious operating systems and hardware resources. For example, where amicro-app desires to communicate with a device or network other than themobile device or mobile operating system, the micro-app may leverage thecommunication protocol of the operating system and associated devicehardware under the predetermined rules of the mobile operating system.Moreover, where the micro-app desires an input from a user, themicro-app may be configured to request a response from the operatingsystem which monitors various hardware components and then communicatesa detected input from the hardware to the micro-app.

As used herein, the term “network” includes any cloud, cloud computingsystem or electronic communications system or method which incorporateshardware and/or software components. Communication among the parties maybe accomplished through any suitable communication channels, such as,for example, a telephone network, an extranet, an intranet, Internetpoint of interaction device (point of sale device, personal digitalassistant (e.g., iPhone®, Palm Pilot®, Blackberry®), cellular phone,kiosk, etc), online communications, satellite communications, off-linecommunications, wireless communications, transponder communications,local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), virtual privatenetwork (VPN), networked or linked devices, keyboard, mouse and/or anysuitable communication or data input modality. Moreover, although thesystem is frequently described herein as being implemented with TCP/IPcommunications protocols, the system may also be implemented using IPX,Appletalk, IP-6, NetBIOS, OSI, any tunneling protocol (e.g. IPsec, SSH),or any number of existing or future protocols. If the network is in thenature of a public network, such as the internet, it may be advantageousto presume the network to be insecure and open to eavesdroppers.Specific information related to the protocols, standards, andapplication software utilized in connection with the Internet isgenerally known to those skilled in the art and, as such, need not bedetailed herein. See, for example, DILIP NAIK, INTERNET STANDARDS ANDPROTOCOLS (1998); JAVA 2 COMPLETE, various authors, (Sybex 1999);DEBORAH RAY AND ERIC RAY, MASTERING HTML 4.0 (1997); and LOSHIN, TCP/IPCLEARLY EXPLAINED (1997) and DAVID GOURLEY AND BRIAN TOTTY, HTTP, THEDEFINITIVE GUIDE (3002), the contents of which are hereby incorporatedby reference.

The various system components may be independently, separately orcollectively suitably coupled to the network via data links whichincludes, for example, a connection to an Internet Service Provider(ISP) over the local loop as is typically used in connection withstandard modem communication, cable modem, Dish networks, ISDN, DigitalSubscriber Line (DSL), or various wireless communication methods, see,e.g., GILBERT HELD, UNDERSTANDING DATA COMMUNICATIONS (1996), which ishereby incorporated by reference. It is noted that the network may beimplemented as other types of networks, such as an interactivetelevision (ITV) network. Moreover, the system contemplates the use,sale or distribution of any goods, services or information over anynetwork having similar functionality described herein.

“Cloud” or “Cloud computing” includes a model for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services)that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal managementeffort or service provider interaction. Cloud computing may includelocation-independent computing, whereby shared servers provideresources, software, and data to computers and other devices on demand.For more information regarding cloud computing, see the NIST's (NationalInstitute of Standards and Technology) definition of cloud computing athttp://csrc-.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/900-145/SP900-145.pdf (lastvisited June 2012), which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

As used herein, “transmit” may include sending electronic data from onesystem component to another over a network connection. Additionally, asused herein, “data” may include encompassing information such ascommands, queries, files, data for storage, and the like in digital orany other form.

As used herein, “issue a debit”, “debit” or “debiting” refers to eithercausing the debiting of a stored value or prepaid card-type financialaccount, or causing the charging of a credit or charge card-typefinancial account, as applicable.

The system contemplates uses in association with web services, utilitycomputing, pervasive and individualized computing, security and identitysolutions, autonomic computing, cloud computing, commodity computing,mobility and wireless solutions, open source, biometrics, grid computingand/or mesh computing.

Any databases discussed herein may include relational, hierarchical,graphical, or object-oriented structure and/or any other databaseconfigurations. Common database products that may be used to implementthe databases include DB2 by IBM (Armonk, N.Y.), various databaseproducts available from Oracle Corporation (Redwood Shores, Calif.),Microsoft Access or Microsoft SQL Server by Microsoft Corporation(Redmond, Wash.), MySQL by MySQL AB (Uppsala, Sweden), or any othersuitable database product. Moreover, the databases may be organized inany suitable manner, for example, as data tables or lookup tables. Eachrecord may be a single file, a series of files, a linked series of datafields or any other data structure. Association of certain data may beaccomplished through any desired data association technique such asthose known or practiced in the art. For example, the association may beaccomplished either manually or automatically. Automatic associationtechniques may include, for example, a database search, a databasemerge, GREP, AGREP, SQL, using a key field in the tables to speedsearches, sequential searches through all the tables and files, sortingrecords in the file according to a known order to simplify lookup,and/or the like. The association step may be accomplished by a databasemerge function, for example, using a “key field” in pre-selecteddatabases or data sectors. Various database tuning steps arecontemplated to optimize database performance. For example, frequentlyused tiles such as indexes may be placed on separate file systems toreduce In/Out (“I/O”) bottlenecks.

More particularly, a “key field” partitions the database according tothe high-level class of objects defined by the key field. For example,certain types of data may be designated as a key field in a plurality ofrelated data tables and the data tables may then be linked on the basisof the type of data in the key field. The data corresponding to the keyfield in each of the linked data tables is preferably the same or of thesame type. However, data tables having similar, though not identical,data in the key fields may also be linked by using AGREP, for example.In accordance with one embodiment, any suitable data storage techniquemay be utilized to store data without a standard format. Data sets maybe stored using any suitable technique, including, for example, storingindividual files using an ISO/IEC 7816-4 file structure; implementing adomain whereby a dedicated file is selected that exposes one or moreelementary files containing one or more data sets; using data setsstored in individual files using a hierarchical filing system; data setsstored as records in a single file (including compression, SQLaccessible, hashed via one or more keys, numeric, alphabetical by firsttuple, etc.); Binary Large Object (BLOB); stored as ungrouped dataelements encoded using ISO/IEC 7816-6 data elements; stored as ungroupeddata elements encoded using ISO/IEC Abstract Syntax Notation (ASN.1) asin ISO/IEC 8824 and 8825; and/or other proprietary techniques that mayinclude fractal compression methods, image compression methods, etc.

In one exemplary embodiment the ability to store a wide variety ofinformation in different formats is facilitated by storing theinformation as a BLOB. Thus, any binary information can be stored in astorage space associated with a data set. As discussed above, the binaryinformation may be stored on the financial transaction instrument orexternal to but affiliated with the financial transaction instrument.The BLOB method may store data sets as ungrouped data elements formattedas a block of binary via a fixed memory offset using either fixedstorage allocation, circular queue techniques, or best practices withrespect to memory management (e.g., paged memory, least recently used,etc.). By using BLOB methods, the ability to store various data setsthat have different formats facilitates the storage of data associatedwith the financial transaction instrument by multiple and unrelatedowners of the data sets. For example, a first data set which may bestored may be provided by a first party, a second data set which may bestored may be provided by an unrelated second party, and yet a thirddata set which may be stored, may be provided by an third partyunrelated to the first and second party. Each of these three exemplarydata sets may contain different information that is stored usingdifferent data storage formats and/or techniques. Further, each data setmay contain subsets of data that also may be distinct from othersubsets.

As stated above, in various embodiments, the data can be stored withoutregard to a common format. However, in one exemplary embodiment, thedata set (e.g., BLOB) may be annotated in a standard manner whenprovided for manipulating the data onto the financial transactioninstrument. The annotation may comprise a short header, trailer, orother appropriate indicator related to each data set that is configuredto convey information useful in managing the various data sets. Forexample, the annotation may be called a “condition header”, “header”,“trailer”, or “status”, herein, and may comprise an indication of thestatus of the data set or may include an identifier correlated to aspecific issuer or owner of the data. In one example, the first threebytes of each data set BLOB may be configured or configurable toindicate the status of that particular data set; e.g., LOADED,INITIALIZED, READY, BLOCKED, REMOVABLE, or DELETED. Subsequent bytes ofdata may be used to indicate for example, the identity of the issuer,user, transaction/membership account identifier or the like. Each ofthese condition annotations are further discussed herein.

The data set annotation may also be used for other types of statusinformation as well as various other purposes. For example, the data setannotation may include security information establishing access levels.The access levels may, for example, be configured to permit only certainindividuals, levels of employees, companies, or other entities to accessdata sets, or to permit access to specific data sets based on thetransaction, merchant, issuer, user or the like. Furthermore, thesecurity information may restrict/permit only certain actions such asaccessing, modifying, and/or deleting data sets. In one example, thedata set annotation indicates that only the data set owner or the userare permitted to delete a data set, various identified users may bepermitted to access the data set for reading, and others are altogetherexcluded from accessing the data set. However, other access restrictionparameters may also be used allowing various entities to access a dataset with various permission levels as appropriate.

The data, including the header or trailer may be received by astandalone interaction device configured to add, delete, modify, oraugment the data in accordance with the header or trailer. As such, inone embodiment, the header or trailer is not stored on the transactiondevice along with the associated issuer-owned data but instead theappropriate action may be taken by providing to the transactioninstrument user at the stand alone device, the appropriate option forthe action to be taken. The system may contemplate a data storagearrangement wherein the header or trailer, or header or trailer history,of the data is stored on the transaction instrument in relation to theappropriate data.

One skilled in the art will also appreciate that, for security reasons,any databases, systems, devices, servers or other components of thesystem may consist of any combination thereof at a single location or atmultiple locations, wherein each database or system includes any ofvarious suitable security features, such as firewalls, access codes,encryption, decryption, compression, decompression, and/or the like.

Encryption may be performed by way of any of the techniques nowavailable in the art or which may become available—e.g., Twofish, RSA,El Gamal, Schorr signature, DSA, PGP, PKI, GPG (GnuPG), and symmetricand asymmetric eryptosystems.

The computing unit of the web client may be further equipped with anInternet browser connected to the Internet or an intranet using standarddial-up, cable, DSL or any other Internet protocol known in the art.Transactions originating at a web client may pass through a firewall inorder to prevent unauthorized access from users of other networks.Further, additional firewalls may be deployed between the varyingcomponents of CMS to further enhance security.

Firewall may include any hardware and/or software suitably configured toprotect CMS components and/or enterprise computing resources from usersof other networks. Further, a firewall may be configured to limit orrestrict access to various systems and components behind the firewallfor web clients connecting through a web server. Firewall may reside invarying configurations including Stateful Inspection, Proxy based,access control lists, and Packet Filtering among others. Firewall may beintegrated within a web server or any other CMS components or mayfurther reside as a separate entity. A firewall may implement networkaddress translation (“NAT”) and/or network address port translation(“NAPT”). A firewall may accommodate various tunneling protocols tofacilitate secure communications, such as those used in virtual privatenetworking. A firewall may implement a demilitarized zone (“DMZ”) tofacilitate communications with a public network such as the Internet. Afirewall may be integrated as software within an Internet server, anyother application server components or may reside within anothercomputing device or may take the form of a standalone hardwarecomponent.

The computers discussed herein may provide a suitable website or otherInternet-based graphical user interface which is accessible by users. Inone embodiment, the Microsoft Internet information Server (IIS),Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS), and Microsoft SQL, Server, are usedin conjunction with the Microsoft operating system, Microsoft NT webserver software, a Microsoft SQL Server database system, and a MicrosoftCommerce Server. Additionally, components such as Access or MicrosoftSQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, Informix MySQL, Interbase, etc., may be usedto provide an Active Data Object (ADO) compliant database managementsystem. In one embodiment, the Apache web server is used in conjunctionwith a Linux operating system, a MySQL database, and the Perl, PHP,and/or Python programming languages.

Any of the communications, inputs, storage, databases or displaysdiscussed herein may be facilitated through a website having web pages.The term “web page” as it is used herein is not meant to limit the typeof documents and applications that might be used to interact with theuser. For example, a typical website might include, in addition tostandard HTML documents, various forms, Java applets, JavaScript, activeserver pages (ASP), common gateway interface scripts (CGI), extensiblemarkup language (XML), dynamic HTML, cascading style sheets (CSS), AJAX(Asynchronous Javascript And XML), helper applications, plug-ins, andthe like. A server may include a web service that receives a requestfrom a web server, the request including a URL(http://yahoo.com/stockquotes/ge) and an IP address (123.56.789.234).The web server retrieves the appropriate web pages and sends the data orapplications for the web pages to the IP address. Web services areapplications that are capable of interacting with other applicationsover a communications means, such as the internet. Web services aretypically based on standards or protocols such as XML, SOAP, AJAX, WSDLand UDDI, Web services methods are well known in the art, and arecovered in many standard texts. See, e.g., ALEX NGHIEM, IT WEB SERVICES:A ROADMAP FOR THE ENTERPRISE (3003), hereby incorporated by reference.

Middleware may include any hardware and/or software suitably configuredto facilitate communications and/or process transactions betweendisparate computing systems. Middleware components are commerciallyavailable and known in the art. Middleware may be implemented throughcommercially available hardware and/or software, through custom hardwareand/or software components, or through a combination thereof Middlewaremay reside in a variety of configurations and may exist as a standalonesystem or may be a software component residing on the Internet server.Middleware may be configured to process transactions between the variouscomponents of an application server and any number of internal orexternal systems for any of the purposes disclosed herein. WebSphereMQTM (formerly MQSeries) by IBM, Inc. (Armonk, N.Y.) is an example of acommercially available middleware product. An Enterprise Service Bus(“ESB”) application is another example of middleware.

Practitioners will also appreciate that there are a number of methodsfor displaying data within a browser-based document. Data may berepresented as standard text or within a fixed list, scrollable list,drop-down list, editable text field, fixed text field, pop-up window,and the like. Likewise, there are a number of methods available formodifying data in a web page such as, for example, free text entry usinga keyboard, selection of menu items, check boxes, option boxes, and thelike.

The system and method may be described herein in terms of functionalblock components, screen shots, optional selections and variousprocessing steps. It should be appreciated that such functional blocksmay be realized by any number of hardware and/or software componentsconfigured to perform the specified functions. For example, the systemmay employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements,processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like, whichmay carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or moremicroprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, the softwareelements of the system may be implemented with any programming orscripting language such as C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, VBScript,Macromedia Cold Fusion, COBOL, Microsoft Active Server Pages, assembly,PERL, PHP, awk, Python, Visual Basic, SQL Stored Procedures, PL/SQL, anyUNIX shell script, and extensible markup language (XML) with the variousalgorithms being implemented with any combination of data structures,objects, processes, routines or other programming elements. Further, itshould be noted that the system may employ any number of conventionaltechniques for data transmission, signaling, data processing, networkcontrol, and the like. Still further, the system could be used to detector prevent security issues with a client-side scripting language, suchas JavaScript, VBScript or the like. For a basic introduction ofcryptography and network security, see any of the following references:(1) “Applied Cryptography: Protocols, Algorithms, And Source Code In C,”by Bruce Schneier, published by John Wiley & Sons (second edition,1995): (2) “Java Cryptography” by Jonathan Knudson, published byO'Reilly & Associates (1998); (3) “Cryptography & Network Security:Principles & Practice” by William Stallings, published by Prentice Hall;all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

As used herein, the term “end user”, “consumer”, “customer”,“cardmember”, “business” or “merchant” may be used interchangeably witheach other, and each shall mean any person, entity, governmentorganization, business, machine, hardware, and/or software. A bank maybe part of the system, but the bank may represent other types of cardissuing institutions, such as credit card companies, card sponsoringcompanies, or third party issuers under contract with financialinstitutions. It is further noted that other participants may beinvolved in some phases of the transaction, such as an intermediarysettlement institution, but these participants are not shown.

Each participant is equipped with a computing device in order tointeract with the system and facilitate online commerce transactions.The customer has a computing unit in the form of a personal computer,although other types of computing units may be used including laptops,notebooks, hand held computers, set-top boxes, cellular telephones,touch-tone telephones and the like. The merchant has a computing unitimplemented in the form of a computer-server, although otherimplementations are contemplated by the system. The bank has a computingcenter shown as a main frame computer. However, the bank computingcenter may be implemented in other forms, such as a mini-computer, a PCserver, a network of computers located in the same of differentgeographic locations, or the like. Moreover, the system contemplates theuse, sale or distribution of any goods, services or information over anynetwork having similar functionality described herein

The merchant computer and the bank computer may be interconnected via asecond network, referred to as a payment network. The payment networkwhich may be part of certain transactions represents existingproprietary networks that presently accommodate transactions for creditcards, debit cards, and other types of financial/banking cards. Thepayment network is a closed network that is assumed to be secure fromeavesdroppers. Exemplary transaction networks may include the AmericanExpress®, VisaNet® and the Veriphone® networks.

The electronic commerce system may be implemented at the customer andissuing bank. In an exemplary implementation, the electronic commercesystem is implemented as computer software modules loaded onto thecustomer computer and the banking computing center. The merchantcomputer does not require any additional software to participate in theonline commerce transactions supported by the online commerce system.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the systemmay be embodied as a customization of an existing system, an add-onproduct, a processing apparatus executing upgraded software, a standalone system, a distributed system, a method, a data processing system,a device for data processing, and/or a computer program product.Accordingly, any portion of the system or a module may take the form ofa processing apparatus executing code, an internet based embodiment, anentirely hardware embodiment, or an embodiment combining aspects of theinternet, software and hardware. Furthermore, the system may take theform of a computer program product on a computer-readable storage mediumhaving computer-readable program code means embodied in the storagemedium. Any suitable computer-readable storage medium may be utilized,including hard disks, CD-ROM, optical storage devices, magnetic storagedevices, and/or the like.

The system and method is described herein with reference to screenshots, block diagrams and flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatus(e.g., systems), and computer program products according to variousembodiments. It will be understood that each functional block of theblock diagrams and the flowchart illustrations, and combinations offunctional blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations,respectively, can be implemented by computer program instructions.

These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructionsthat execute on the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart block or blocks. These computer program instructions may alsobe stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks.The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart block or blocks.

Accordingly, functional blocks of the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations support combinations of means for performing the specifiedfunctions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions,and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. Itwill also be understood that each functional block of the block diagramsand flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks inthe block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, can be implemented byeither special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform thespecified functions or steps, or suitable combinations of specialpurpose hardware and computer instructions. Further, illustrations ofthe process flows and the descriptions thereof may make reference touser windows, webpages, websites, web forms, prompts, etc. Practitionerswill appreciate that the illustrated steps described herein may comprisein any number of configurations including the use of windows, webpages,web forms, popup windows, prompts and the like. It should be furtherappreciated that the multiple steps as illustrated and described may becombined into single webpages and/or windows but have been expanded forthe sake of simplicity. In other cases, steps illustrated and describedas single process steps may be separated into multiple webpages and/orwindows but have been combined for simplicity.

The term “non-transitory” is to be understood to remove only propagatingtransitory signals per se from the claim scope and does not relinquishrights to all standard computer-readable media that are not onlypropagating transitory signals per se. Stated another way, the meaningof the term “non-transitory computer-readable medium” and“non-transitory computer-readable storage medium” should be construed toexclude only those types of transitory computer-readable media whichwere found in In Re Nuijten to fall outside the scope of patentablesubject matter under 35 U.S.C. §101.

In yet another embodiment, the transponder, transponder-reader, and/ortransponder-reader system are configured with a biometric securitysystem that may be used for providing biometrics as a secondary form ofidentification. The biometric security system may include a transponderand a reader communicating with the system. The biometric securitysystem also may include a biometric sensor that detects biometricsamples and a device for verifying biometric samples. The biometricsecurity system may be configured with one or more biometric scanners,processors and/or systems. A biometric system may include one or moretechnologies, or any portion thereof, such as, for example, recognitionof a biometric. As used herein, a biometric may include a user's voice,fingerprint, facial, ear, signature, vascular patterns, DNA sampling,hand geometry, sound, olfactory, keystroke/typing, iris, retinal or anyother biometric relating to recognition based upon any body part,function, system, attribute and/or other characteristic, or any portionthereof.

Phrases and terms similar to an “entity” may include any individual,consumer, customer, group, business, organization, government entity,transaction account issuer or processor (e.g., credit, charge, etc.),merchant, consortium of merchants, account holder, charitableorganization, software, hardware, and/or any other type of entity. Theterms “user,” “consumer,” “purchaser,” and/or the plural form of theseterms are used interchangeably throughout herein to refer to thosepersons or entities that are alleged to be authorized to use atransaction account.

Phrases and terms similar to “account”, “account number”, “account code”or “consumer account” as used herein, may include any device, code(e.g., one or more of an authorization/access code, personalidentification number (“PIN”), Internet code, other identification code,and/or the like), number, letter, symbol, digital certificate, smartchip, digital signal, analog signal, biometric or otheridentifier/indicia suitably configured to allow the consumer to access,interact with or communicate with the system. The account number mayoptionally be located on or associated with a rewards account, chargeaccount, credit account, debit account, prepaid account, telephone card,embossed card, smart card, magnetic stripe card, bar code card,transponder, radio frequency card or an associated account.

The system may include or interface with any of the foregoing accounts,devices, and/or a transponder and reader (e.g. RFID reader) in RPcommunication with the transponder (which may include a fob), orcommunications between an initiator and a target enabled by near fieldcommunications (NFC). Typical devices may include, for example, a keyring, tag, card, cell phone, wristwatch or any such form capable ofbeing presented for interrogation. Moreover, the system, computing unitor device discussed herein may include a “pervasive computing device,”which may include a traditionally non-computerized device that isembedded with a computing unit. Examples may include watches, Internetenabled kitchen appliances, restaurant tables embedded with RF readers,wallets or purses with imbedded transponders, etc. Furthermore, a deviceor financial transaction instrument may have electronic andcommunications functionality enabled, for example, by: a network ofelectronic circuitry that is printed or otherwise incorporated onto orwithin the transaction instrument (and typically referred to as a “smartcard”; a fob having a transponder and an RFID reader; and/or near fieldcommunication (NFC) technologies. For more information regarding NFC,refer to the following specifications all of which are incorporated byreference herein: ISO/IEC 18092/ECMA-340, Near Field CommunicationInterface and Protocol-1 (NFCIP-1); ISO/IEC 21481/ECMA-352, Near FieldCommunication Interface and Protocol-2 (NFCIP-2); and EMV 4.2 availableat http://www.emvco.com/default.aspx.

The account number may be distributed and stored in any form of plastic,electronic, magnetic, radio frequency, wireless, audio and/or opticaldevice capable of transmitting or downloading data from itself to asecond device. A consumer account number may be, for example, asixteen-digit account number, although each credit provider has its ownnumbering system, such as the fifteen-digit numbering system used byAmerican Express. Each company's account numbers comply with thatcompany's standardized format such drat the company using afifteen-digit format will generally use three-spaced sets of numbers, asrepresented by the number “0000 000000 00000”. The first five to sevendigits are reserved for processing purposes and identify the issuingbank, account type, etc. In this example, the last (fifteenth) digit isused as a sum check for the fifteen digit number. The intermediaryeight-to-eleven digits are used to uniquely identify the consumer. Amerchant account number may be, for example, any number or alpha-numericcharacters that identify a particular merchant for purposes of accountacceptance, account reconciliation, reporting, or the like.

In various embodiments, an account number may identify a consumer. Inaddition, in various embodiments, a consumer may be identified by avariety of identifiers, including, for example, an email address, atelephone number, a cookie id, a radio frequency identifier (RFID), abiometric, and the like.

Phrases and terms similar to “financial institution” or “transactionaccount issuer” may include any entity that offers transaction accountservices. Although often referred to as a “financial institution,” thefinancial institution may represent any type of bank, lender or othertype of account issuing institution, such as credit card companies, cardsponsoring companies, or third party issuers under contract withfinancial institutions. It is further noted that other participants maybe involved in some phases of the transaction, such as an intermediarysettlement institution.

The terms “payment vehicle,” “financial transaction instrument,”“transaction instrument” and/or the plural form of these terms may beused interchangeably throughout to refer to a financial instrument.

Phrases and terms similar to “merchant,” “supplier” or “seller” mayinclude any entity that receives payment or other consideration. Forexample, a supplier may request payment for goods sold to a buyer whoholds an account with a transaction account issuer.

Phrases and terms similar to a “buyer” may include any entity thatreceives goods or services in exchange for consideration (e.g. financialpayment). For example, a buyer may purchase, lease, rent, barter orotherwise obtain goods from a supplier and pay the supplier using atransaction account.

Phrases and terms similar to “internal data” may include any data acredit issuer possesses or acquires pertaining to a particular consumer.Internal data may be gathered before, during, or after a relationshipbetween the credit issuer and the transaction account holder (e.g., theconsumer or buyer). Such data may include consumer demographic data.Consumer demographic data includes any data pertaining to a consumer.Consumer demographic data may include consumer name, address, telephonenumber, email address, employer and social security number. Consumertransactional data is any data pertaining to the particular transactionsin which a consumer engages during any given time period. Consumertransactional data may include, for example, transaction amount,transaction time, transaction vendor/merchant, and transactionvendor/merchant location. Transaction vendor/merchant location maycontain a high degree of specificity to a vendor/merchant. For example,transaction vendor/merchant location may include a particular gasolinefiling station in a particular postal code located at a particular crosssection or address. Also, for example, transaction vendor/merchantlocation may include a particular web address, such as a UniformResource Locator (“URL”), an email address and/or an Internet Protocol(“IP”) address for a vendor/merchant. Transaction vendor/merchant, andtransaction vendor/merchant location may be associated with a particularconsumer and further associated with sets of consumers. Consumer paymentdata includes any data pertaining to a consumer's history of paying debtobligations. Consumer payment data may include consumer payment dates,payment amounts, balance amount, and credit limit. Internal data mayfurther comprise records of consumer service calls, complaints, requestsfor credit line increases, questions, and comments. A record of aconsumer service call includes, for example, date of call, reason forcall, and any transcript or summary of the actual call.

Phrases similar to a “payment processor” may include a company (e.g., athird party) appointed (e.g., by a merchant) to handle transactions. Apayment processor may include an issuer, acquirer, authorize and/or anyother system or entity involved in the transaction process. Paymentprocessors may be broken down into two types: front-end and back-end.Front-end payment processors have connections to various transactionaccounts and supply authorization and settlement services to themerchant banks' merchants. Back-end payment processors acceptsettlements from front-end payment processors and, via The FederalReserve Bank, move money from an issuing bank to the merchant bank. Inan operation that will usually take a few seconds, the payment processorwill both check the details received by forwarding the details to therespective account's issuing bank or card association for verification,and may carry out a series of anti-fraud measures against thetransaction. Additional parameters, including the account's country ofissue and its previous payment history, may be used to gauge theprobability of the transaction being approved. In response to thepayment processor receiving confirmation that the transaction accountdetails have been verified, the information may be relayed back to themerchant, who will then complete the payment transaction. In response tothe verification being denied, the payment processor relays theinformation to the merchant, who may then decline the transaction.Phrases similar to a “payment gateway” or “gateway” may include anapplication service provider service that authorizes payments fore-businesses, online retailers, and/or traditional brick and mortarmerchants. The gateway may be tire equivalent of a physical point ofsale terminal located in most retail outlets. A payment gateway mayprotect transaction account details by encrypting sensitive information,such as transaction account numbers, to ensure that information passessecurely between the customer and the merchant and also between merchantand payment processor.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that maycause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure isaccordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, inwhich reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean“one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one ormore.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to ‘at least one of A, B, and C’or ‘at least one of A, B, or C’ is used in the claims or specification,it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone maybe present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, Calone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of theelements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example,A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Although the disclosureincludes a method, it is contemplated that it may be embodied ascomputer program instructions on a tangible computer-readable carrier,such as a magnetic or optical memory or a magnetic or optical disk. Allstructural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of theabove-described exemplary embodiments that are known to those ofordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by referenceand are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, itis not necessary for a device or method to address each and everyproblem sought to be solved by the present disclosure, for it to beencompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component,or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated tothe public regardless of whether the element, component, or method stepis explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to beconstrued under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unlessthe element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As usedherein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variationthereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elementsdoes not include only those elements but may include other elements notexpressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, orapparatus.

1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a computer based system foradministering a transaction system and from an entertainment channel,activity information associated with a virtual item, wherein atransaction account is associated with the entertainment channel;determining, by the computer based system, an item based on the virtualitem, wherein the virtual item is a representation of the item;analyzing, by the computer based system, the activity information basedon criteria; determining, by the computer based system, at least one ofa transaction event and a reward event in response to and based on theanalyzing the activity; initiating, by the computer based system, atransaction with the transaction account for the item, in response tothe determining the transaction event; and initiating, by the computerbased system, a reward for the item, in response to the determining thereward event.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity informationcorresponds to an activity or accomplishment in the entertainmentchannel.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the entertainment channel isa gaming channel.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprisingassociating, by the computer based system, a transaction account with aconsumer profile, wherein the consumer profile is associated with theentertainment channel.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the associatingis based on at least one of a token and a code provided to a userthrough the entertainment channel.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein theat least one of the token and the code is provided to the computer basedsystem through the entertainment channel.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the preference require a user provide a confirmation codeassociated with a transaction account prior to the initiating.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the initiating is automatic based on apreference.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein a notification of thetransaction is sent to a user in the entertainment channel.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the transaction event is related to anactivity in the entertainment channel.
 11. (canceled)
 12. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the transaction event is a predetermined accomplishmentin the entertainment channel.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein theactivity is a selection of the virtual item from a user, wherein thevirtual item is displayed in the entertainment channel.
 14. (canceled)15. The method of claim 1, wherein the item is purchased by a user basedon a selection.
 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising,monitoring, by the computer based system, an activity of a user in anentertainment channel.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the activityinformation is compared to a predetermined rule.
 18. The method of claim1, wherein a predetermined rule defines a type of content and a timeperiod.
 19. A non-transitory computer program product havingcomputer-executable instructions stored thereon that, if executed by acomputer based system capable of administering a transaction system,causes the computer based system to be capable of performing operationscomprising: receiving, by the computer based system and from anentertainment channel, activity information associated with a virtualitem, wherein a transaction account is associated with the entertainmentchannel; determining, by the computer based system, an item based on thevirtual item, wherein the virtual item is a representation of the item;analyzing, by the computer based system, the activity information basedon criteria; determining, by the computer based system, at least one ofa transaction event and a reward event in response to and based on theanalyzing the activity; initiating, by the computer based system, atransaction with the transaction account for the item, in response tothe determining the transaction event; and initiating, by the computerbased system, a reward for the item, in response to the determining thereward event.
 20. A computer based transaction account system,comprising: a processor capable of administering a transaction system; anon-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, thenon-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon; a monitoringmodule stored in the memory and operated by the processor, andconfigured to receive activity information associated with a virtualitem, wherein a transaction account is associated with the entertainmentchannel; the monitoring module configured to determine an item based onthe virtual item, wherein the virtual item is a representation of theitem; the monitoring module further configured to analyze the activityinformation based on criteria; a transaction module, stored in thememory, operated by the processor, and configured to determine at leastone of a transaction event and a reward event in response to and basedon the monitoring module analyzing the activity; the transaction modulefurther configured to initiate a transaction for the item with thetransaction account, in response to the determining the transactionevent; and the transaction module further configured to initiate areward for the item, in response to the determining the reward event.